Brock Street elderly housing project well under way

ROCHESTER — Another affordable housing project for elderly Rochester residents is under construction by the Rochester Housing Authority (RHA).

“Marsh View Housing for the Elderly,” a 12-unit complex, will be located on Brock Street with anticipated occupancy in May of 2013.

“The apartments will provide very comfortable living arrangements for elderly residents,” said Stacey Price, the RHA executive director. “The one-bedroom apartments will be approximately 700 square feet with kitchen appliances provided. There will be a laundromat, covered parking, and a meeting area for tenants.”

The RHA is the project sponsor with funding provided under the federal tax credit program administered by the New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority (NHHFA). The anticipated total project cost is approximately $2.6 million. In the very competitive process for funding, the Marsh View project received the highest score statewide for an elderly housing project with funds awarded in early 2012.

After the federal tax credits were awarded, the Marsh View Limited Partnership was formed with the Northern New England Housing Investment Fund (NNEHIF) purchasing the tax credits and is the project’s limited partner. The RHA-created “RHA Housing III” is the general partner and the RHA will be retained as the management agent for the project.

Rochester’s Beloin Construction Company is the project’s general contractor and Profile Bank is financing the first mortgage. The RHA’s Capital Fund Manager Otis Perry is the project manager for the RHA.

Marsh View is the RHA’s third tax credit project and first exclusively for the elderly. Previous projects include the 12-unit Emerson Court Apartments and the 58-unit Linscott Court Apartments.

Former RHA Executive Director Karl Van Asselt serves as president of the Marsh View Limited Partnership.

“This is another step in the RHA’s long-term goal of creating more affordable housing,” said Van Asselt. “It fits very nicely into the city’s overall plan of supporting projects that address affordable housing needs of both the elderly and families.”

According to Price, the apartments are restricted to applicants age 62 and older with the affordable rent levels to be determined.

“In addition, the RHA will provide an elderly service coordinator to work with the tenants which I believe will be well-received,” said Price.

The RHA provides housing assistance to more than 500 Rochester residents and families and owns or manages housing facilities at seven locations. Members of the Commission include Chairman Art Nickless and Commissioners Mark Hourihane, Cider Berry, Janet Davis, and Fred Glidden.